Grants awarded to enhance and support tribal justice and safety
Citizen Potawatomi Nation will receive more than $1.4 million in grants from the Department of Justice.
“These grant funds are critical to the success of our programs, the strength of our tribe and the communities around us” said John Barrett, Chairman, Citizen Potawatomi Nation. “This will allow us to continue to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence and allow us to add services to help citizens with legal counsel. We are very thankful to the Department of Justice for their partnership”
Citizen Potawatomi Nation House of Hope and FireLodge Youth and Family Services were awarded $898,472 by the Office of Violence Against Women.
House of Hope will use the funds to continue ongoing case management staffing and provide assistance for services requested by Native Americans who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. The program provides legal and counseling assistance and a variety of post-emergency shelter services so that victims can gain independence from their abusers.
The Tribal Court was awarded $571,522 by the Office of Justice Programs-Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The Tribal Court will use the funds to fulfill the increasing requests made by victims of crime, tribal members and CPN employees. The program will provide legal assistance to tribal members at large, assist with representation in Indian Child Welfare cases and provide legal representation for domestic violence victims in tribal and state court.
“The additional resources will help us increase our victim advocacy and improve our tribal court,” said Linda Capps, Vice Chairman, Citizen Potawatomi Nation. “These programs and services benefit the community as a whole by building stronger families and contributing to a safer community.”
The Department of Justice awarded 286 grants totaling $245 million to tribal governments in 2011 and 2012. The grants will provide more than $101 million to enhance law enforcement practices, and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts in ten purpose areas including public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; violence against women; elder abuse; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs.